2009-2010 School Year Calendar

2008-2009 School Year Calendar

Senior Exemption Form

Low Income Exemption Form

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 PARCEL TAX INFORMATION

There will be a Thank You Dinner for all Measure I J Volunteers on Tuesday, November 17 from 5:45-6:45 p.m. in the main room at the Albany Community Center.   If you volunteered, please come and join the fun!! 

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November 3, 2009              

Members of the Albany Community:

The Albany Unified School District (AUSD), the City of Albany, and the University of California, Berkeley are pleased to announce a proposed agreement that will strengthen and improve services and programs for our community.

For many years, these three groups have shared land use and facilities on the University Village Apartments (UVA) site. Through  collaborative efforts and innovative thinking, a plan has been crafted to improve after-school child care, create a permanent home for the Albany Children’s Center, add a much needed infant/toddler component to the community, and help resolve some of AUSD’s long standing space shortage.

The proposed agreement includes the following sequential events:

1. AUSD remains committed to the Albany Children’s Center (ACC) and has decided to move from their current leased location in an aging UC facility to a permanent home in what is now the MacGregor High School at 720 Jackson Street, in August 2010.
2. MacGregor High School will move where the Albany Adult School currently is located at 601 San Gabriel.
3. The Albany Adult School will move to Albany High School in January 2010 so renovation can begin on that facility prior to the MacGregor High move.
4. Following the ACC move in August 2010, work on improvements to Codornices Creek behind the current ACC site in the Village will commence.
5. UC Berkeley has agreed to lease a portion of the land on Monroe Street to temporarily house the AUSD and Special Education Offices until they are able to relocate or build their new site in 2015. 
6. These relocations free up much needed space to build new classrooms at Cornell Elementary School as well as  future on site childcare.
7. The City of Albany is currently leasing land on Monroe Street from UC, on which the City located police and fire facilities for the duration of the Civic Center renovations.  The City will vacate these facilities in early 2010 to allow AUSD to move in.  
8. The ACC will move their school age program currently in the Village Community Center to Oceanview Elementary School at the end of this school year. These Community Center rooms will be renovated to temporarily house two UCB childcare preschool programs.
9. UC will begin plans to renovate or rebuild the old ACC site for a new center to meet the needs of Village and communities families, which will include some infant/toddler spaces as well as preschool .

This collaborative plan is truly an example of how we can move forward by exploring new ways to work together to reach our collective goals to create a supportive community and family atmosphere in Albany.  We invite you to attend the AUSD Board study session Wednesday, November 4, 2009 from 5:30-6:30pm in the Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave.

Sincerely,

On Wednesday, November 4 at 5:30 p.m., there will be a Study Session regarding Facilities: Relocation of Adult Education Program, Albany Children's Center, Maples After School Program, and District Office.  The meeting will be held at the Albany Community Center located at 1249 Marin Avenue.

You may download the Agenda here.

Dear Parent/Guardian: 

I am writing to address the concerns you may have regarding the spread of the flu –   particularly in the wake of attention that the H1N1 virus has received.  Albany Unified School District will continue to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the California Department of Public Health, and the Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) regarding flu conditions and the best steps to take concerning schools and our students.

Whether we are at school or in the community, it is likely that we will be exposed to individuals with the H1N1 virus.  As the flu season progresses, we are anticipating increasing numbers of students and staff who will be affected by both the H1N1 and the typical seasonal flu.  The District has received parent reports that their students have been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu virus.  In addition, sites are reporting H1N1 cases to the District Office where we will continue to monitor any unusual escalation in the prevalence of the flu and communicate with the public health department in the event we have a severe out break.  However, the CDC states that most people who have become ill with this new virus have recovered without requiring medical treatment.  ACPHD has advised schools and parents to treat flu-like symptoms as a seasonal flu, and at this time there is no anticipation for any school closures. 

Teachers and staff at all sites have been advised of the CDC’s recommended precautionary measures.  To date, the District has provided each office and classroom at each site with hand sanitizers as a means to increase the probability that everyone will regularly clean their hands.  We have implemented extra measures to ensure the safety and good health of our entire school community.

Starting Saturday, November 7, the Alameda County Public Health Department will be providing no-cost H1N1 vaccinations to uninsured residents who are at the highest risk of complications from exposure to the H1N1 virus (the schedule of services and additional information is attached).  If you believe that you and/or your child do not fall into this category, please contact your primary care provider to inquire about the vaccine they may offer. 

Reattached you will find a letter sent home to students dated October 28.  Please continue to follow these guidelines and take the precautionary measures that are suggested.  The H1N1 flu virus is an unfortunate reality that we, as a community and nation, are forced to face.  It is important that we all work together to ensure that precautionary measures are being utilized in a reasonable matter.

ACPHD H1N1 Vaccination Clinic Schedule

October 28 Letter

Marla Stephenson, Superintendent

 October 20 - Superintendent Marla Stephenson will host the first “Coffee Talk” of the school year on Monday, November 2, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the Albany Middle School. “Coffee Talk” provides an informal bimonthly opportunity for discourse with the community.

“I encourage you to become informed about the state budget crisis and the impact on the District budget and our students and staff,” said Superintendent Stephenson.

The following dates for future “Coffee Talk” events are as follows:

Monday, November 2, 10 a.m., Albany Middle School Library

Tuesday, December 1, 10 a.m., Cornell Multiuse Room, 920 Talbot Ave

Monday, February 1, 10 a.m., Marin Multiuse Room, 1001 Santa Fe Ave

Thursday, April 1, 10 a.m., Ocean View Multiuse Room, 1000 Jackson St

Albany Middle School is located at 1259 Brighton Avenue. For more information about upcoming Superintendent events, please check back regularly.

OCTOBER 2009

The Albany Unified School District is facing unprecedented financial challenges. We are all being directly impacted by the state of our economy, and I am sensitive to the financial stresses many of you are experiencing.

The majority of our revenue originates from the State. The State General Fund revenue dropped over 20% last year, resulting in precipitous cuts to education. In order to be fiscally responsible and have a balanced budget, we cut over $2 million in the last 12 months. I want to assure you that we are taking every possible measure to minimize the negative impact on classrooms as budgets are reduced.  None the less, dramatic cuts have been made to staffing, supplies and support services; it is unrealistic to think that students have not been affected in some way. Our classes are larger. At Albany High School some classes have 37 students enrolled. Albany Middle school has reduced from a 7 period day to a 6 period day. Our elementary schools have lost instructional aides and an assistant principal. There are less custodians, maintenance staff, district office personnel and library aides. We have cut instructional materials and supplies by 20% to all sites.

We are attempting to forestall further reductions and manage our budget by using one-time revenues, carryover funds and reserves until State funding is restored. Included in the one-time revenue is the Federal Stimulus dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Federal stimulus dollars provide one-time funding in the midst of drastic State reductions. Since the stimulus funding is one-time revenue and must be spent on specific categories by 2011, the District is faced with new spending while cutting existing programs.

While I am concerned about this year, I am very concerned about 2010-11, when the stimulus funding disappears and we are faced with further reductions.

It is our desire to continue providing a strong academic program for all students while facing the serious challenges ahead. I respect and am appreciative of the teachers, support staff and administrators who approached this challenging budget process, during an economic crisis, with a spirit of cooperation. A special thank you to the community volunteers of SchoolCare, Albany Music Fund, Albany Education Foundation and Parent Teacher Associations who have worked tirelessly on fund raising campaigns to raise money for our schools.

Fulfilling our promise to students depends upon the collaboration of Albany staff, parents, elected officials, and every member of this community. We need to work together, with honesty, trust and courage, to create an outstanding school district that will serve as a model to the state.  

Marla Stephenson, Superintendent 

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

MEASURE A OVERSIGHT PANEL SEEKS NEW MEMBERS

AUG. 4: ALBANY BOARD APPROVED TWO PARCEL TAX INITIATIVES FOR NOV. 3 BALLOT - PROPS I & J

Board Budget Review & Adoption - June 30, 7:30 p.m.

Pool Can Run Profitably: Pool Sustainability Committee Rpt - June 30, 4:30 pm

Superintendent’s JUNE Budget Report to the Community - Mon. Jun 8